One of Scotland’s busiest all-weather lifeboat stations has been given a funding boost, with a new pop-up fundraising shop at Drax’s Cruachan Power Station visitor centre.
Oban RNLI – which was called out 60 times last year – carries out lifesaving work at sea in the waters around Oban on Scotland’s west coast.
The pop-up shop offered guests visiting Cruachan Power Station an opportunity to do some Christmas shopping, whilst learning about the vital role the RNLI plays in keeping Scotland’s coastal communities safe.
Funds raised from the charity’s range of Christmas cards, calendars and popular branded items was added to by a donation from Drax of the income from refreshments sold at the event, with the funds raised from the event totalling up to £651.05
The Oban RNLI Fundraising Group is dedicated to supporting Oban Lifeboat ‘The Campbell-Watson’ and her volunteer crew and has a strong relationship with Drax, who awarded the charity £1,500 from its Community Fund scheme earlier this year for general support towards the charities running costs.
Fiona Campbell, Oban RNLI Fundraising Co-ordinator, said: “We are grateful to Drax and the Cruachan Visitor Centre team for welcoming us and helping us connect with so many visitors. Community engagement like this is incredibly important to the RNLI. It raises awareness of our lifesaving work and helps ensure we can continue to support those who get into difficulty along our coastline. We really appreciate the warm welcome and generosity shown by everyone who took part.”
Sarah Baird, Community Manager (Scotland) at Drax, said: “We were delighted to host Oban RNLI at Cruachan Visitor Centre. The charity is a vital part of our coastal communities and plays an essential role in keeping people safe on the water. Events like this give visitors the chance to learn more about that work while supporting a cause that is close to the hearts of many across the region. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the RNLI and supporting their efforts in any way we can.”
